by Andy Sochor<\/p>\n
When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, one of the matters he addressed was the support of preachers (I Corinthians 9:3-14). He explained that although he did not take wages from them (I Corinthians 9:15; cf. II Corinthians 11:8), he had a right to receive such support. To show that a man has a right to receive support for his work as a preacher, Paul cited three other types of work for which men may receive compensation.<\/p>\n
“Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?<\/em>” (I Corinthians 9:7).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The point of this article is not to discuss the right of preachers to be supported for their work. Instead, I want us to notice the three illustrations that Paul used in the verse above. He did not simply pick three random occupations and say that since they have a right to receive a return on their work then preachers should be supported. Every legitimate work is worthy of pay (cf. Proverbs 14:23). Yet the inspired apostle mentioned three works that in some way resemble the role of a preacher. Let us consider these briefly.<\/p>\n
One Who Serves as a Soldier<\/h2>\n
Paul told Timothy, “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus<\/em>” (II Timothy 2:3). Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle against the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). This means that preachers, like Paul, are to be “set for the defense of the gospel<\/em>” (Philippians 1:17, KJV). By proclaiming the truth, they will “demolish arguments<\/em>” (II Corinthians 10:5, NIV). Not only are preachers involved in fighting this battle themselves, but they will also be “equipping … the saints<\/em>” so that they may “put on the full armor of God<\/em>” and “be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil<\/em>” (Ephesians 4:11-12; 6:11)<\/p>\n
One Who Plants a Vineyard<\/h2>\n
In describing the work that he and Apollos did, Paul told the Corinthians, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth<\/em>” (I Corinthians 3:6). He then added, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building<\/em>” (I Corinthians 3:9). Jesus used a similar illustration in the parable of the sower: “The sower went out to sow his seed<\/em>” (Luke 8:5) and “the seed is the word of God<\/em>” (Luke 8:11). The work of a preacher is to plant the seed of the gospel in the hearts of others so that it might grow and eventually produce fruit (Luke 8:15).<\/p>\n
One Who Tends a Flock<\/h2>\n
In the local church, the elders function in the role of shepherds (I Peter 5:2). Preachers do not exercise oversight as elders do (Acts 20:28); however, there is a sense in which the work of a preacher is like that of one who tends a flock. Elders feed the flock by making sure they are taught the word of God. Preachers are involved in this through their teaching. Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus emphasize a preacher’s work in teaching those who make up the church (I Timothy 1:3; 4:6; 6:17-18; II Timothy 2:2, 14; 4:2-5; Titus 2:1, 15; 3:1-2).<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
“The Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel<\/em>” (I Corinthians 9:14). This is not an act of benevolence as if one is in need because he preaches. This support is given as “wages” (II Corinthians 11:8) because of the work that he does. Those who preach are fighting against sin and error, planting the gospel in the hearts of others, and feeding their brethren by teaching them the word of God. This is an important work that needs to be taken seriously by those who are engaged in it and by those who are (or ought to be) supporting it.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Andy Sochor When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, one of the matters he addressed was the support of preachers (I Corinthians 9:3-14). He explained that although he did not take wages from them (I Corinthians 9:15; cf. II Corinthians 11:8), he had a right to receive such support. To show that a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1511],"class_list":["post-54699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-preachers"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49220,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/tent-making-preachers\/","url_meta":{"origin":54699,"position":0},"title":"Tent-Making Preachers","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Andy Sochor God's design is that those who dedicate their lives to preaching the gospel receive full support for that work. Paul told the church in Corinth, \"So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel\" (I Corinthians 9:14). However, one\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Acts_of_the_Apostles_Chapter_18-2_Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media-300x220.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":93183,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-dont-preachers-follow-pauls-example-and-not-accept-pay-for-preaching\/","url_meta":{"origin":54699,"position":1},"title":"Why don’t preachers follow Paul’s example and not accept pay for preaching?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In I Corinthians 11:1, we are commanded to follow the example of the Bible, so why don't preachers today follow Paul's example and not take money for preaching so as not to hinder the Gospel of Christ? Reason I ask this question is because from 1950s-1970s preachers were ranked\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":25399,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/paying-uninspired-gospel-preachers\/","url_meta":{"origin":54699,"position":2},"title":"Paying Uninspired Gospel Preachers","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 27, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry W. Benton In discussing the right and expectation preachers ought to have for adequate financial support, I appealed to Paul's statements in I Corinthians 9:4-14 for the proof of that rightful expectation. A man of the house-church persuasion responded, and I think the exchange hits on some very\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55988,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/dont-muzzle-the-ox\/","url_meta":{"origin":54699,"position":3},"title":"Don’t Muzzle the Ox","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 20, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Sam Stinson \"For it is written in the Law of Moses, \"You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.\" Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/Threashing-300x187.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7841,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-preachers-only-be-supported-if-they-are-in-need\/","url_meta":{"origin":54699,"position":4},"title":"Should preachers only be supported if they are in need?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 18, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: This subject came up in our budget meeting last night. The brethren proposed to increase the pay for our gospel meetings and our spiritual weekend events. I objected. I am in agreement with the scriptures used in\u00a0your address\u00a0regarding supporting the work of the Gospel. I stand on this: It\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":36756,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/paying-preachers\/","url_meta":{"origin":54699,"position":5},"title":"Paying Preachers","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 19, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Matthew W. Bassford Never does anyone argue harder for something they won't actually take than Paul does in I Corinthians 9:3-14. Through much of his ministry, especially his time with the church in Corinth, Paul refused financial support from the church with which he was working. It may be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/payment-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54699"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54699\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}